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Collection by Kelsey Keith

Underrated Buildings Around the Globe

So-called starchitecture—and the backlash against it—may be the talk of the town in design circles, but ask a designer for his or her three favorite buildings and you'll get some surprisingly under-the-radar answers. Here, a look at some treasured buildings across the world.

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Erdman Dormitory at Bryn Mawr College, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, by Louis Kahn "Byrn Mawr is a womens' college but I managed to spend a lot of time there when I was attending Haverford right down the road. Kahn's Erdman dormitory is a concrete castle with a simple plan made of three rotated cubes. You enter the building on a corner of the middle instead of along a flat section of wall. That simple move completely rewires the experience of the building inside. The rooms are on the periphery and there is a large open space at the middle of each cube. Its a powerful building made more so by relying on natural light, concrete, and simple geometric forms." —Architect Noah Walker, who designed a Hollywood bachelor pad featured in Dwell's March 2012 issue.
Erdman Dormitory at Bryn Mawr College, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, by Louis Kahn "Byrn Mawr is a womens' college but I managed to spend a lot of time there when I was attending Haverford right down the road. Kahn's Erdman dormitory is a concrete castle with a simple plan made of three rotated cubes. You enter the building on a corner of the middle instead of along a flat section of wall. That simple move completely rewires the experience of the building inside. The rooms are on the periphery and there is a large open space at the middle of each cube. Its a powerful building made more so by relying on natural light, concrete, and simple geometric forms." —Architect Noah Walker, who designed a Hollywood bachelor pad featured in Dwell's March 2012 issue.
The Swiss Embassy Residence in Washington, DC. Photo by William Lebovich.
The Swiss Embassy Residence in Washington, DC. Photo by William Lebovich.
The Rudolph Tengers Museum houses a collection of the sculptor's work in a building he designed.
The Rudolph Tengers Museum houses a collection of the sculptor's work in a building he designed.
The Sea Ranch Chapel by Hubbell and Hubbell
The Sea Ranch Chapel by Hubbell and Hubbell